Bisti De-Na-Zin Wilderness

The Bisti De-Na-Zin Wilderness forms an extraordinary marvel of geology, in an area of Badlands. Its name derives from the original Native American name: the original Navajo term literally translates as “among the adobe formations.”

The United States Bureau of Land Management manages the majority of the region. Three additional small portions remain private Navajo land. The landscape of the region holds extremely rugged terrain, and it is believed that a bizarre event occurred there in the past.

Evidence shows that the region once contained a large coal field. However, a natural event, likely a lightning strike, ignited the coal field, which subsequently burned for centuries.

Despite the starkness of the region, some species managed to adapt to the conditions. A few hardy plant species such as small scrub and grasses survive within the region. This supports a small, but surprisingly varied, animal population. These include rabbits, badgers, coyotes, several avian species, and, not surprisingly, scorpions and tarantulas.

Archaeological evidence indicates that Native Americans first inhabited the location nearly 10,000 years.